How to Sand Paint From Wood

Coarse-grit sandpaper can remove most of the paint from wood.

If you have a piece of painted furniture that you want to refinish with a natural wood stain or repaint, you need to remove the old paint first. Paint strippers might remove some of the paint, but you are still going to need to sand off the remaining paint. The project requires the right touch because you don’t want to damage the furniture by oversanding the wood. Wear eye protection and a dust mask while sanding wood and work in a well-ventilated area.

1

Remove knobs, hinges and other hardware from the wood, if possible, using a screwdriver. If you cannot remove the hardware, put painter’s tape over the items to protect them from sandpaper grit. Make a note of where each item was on the piece of furniture to make it easier to put it back when you finish.

2

Move the item to an outdoor location. Another option is to set it in your shop or garage. If you must sand paint inside the house, put a tarp on the floor to catch some of the dust.

3

Attach 40- to 60-grit sandpaper to a sanding block or palm sander to remove paint. This is coarse grit, so it can damage the wood if you apply too much pressure. Rub the sandpaper over the wood with the grain of the wood to remove the old paint. Change the paper, as necessary.

4

Use a sanding attachment for a multipurpose tool to get into spots you can't reach with the palm sander.

5

Switch to 80- to 120-grit sandpaper. Working with the grain of the wood, finish removing any paint that remains and work out any scratches on the wood with this medium-grit paper.

6

Change to 150-to 180-grit sandpaper. By the time you go over the wood with this sandpaper, it should be smooth to the touch and ready for finishing.

7

Wipe the entire surface of the wood with a tack cloth to remove any dust that remains.

Things You Will Need

Safety glasses

face mask

Screwdriver

Painter’s tape

Tarp

Sandpaper, ranging from 40- to 150-grit

Sanding block

Palm sander

Multipurpose tool with sanding attachment

Tack cloth

Tip

If you are removing paint from wooden surfaces other than furniture, the process is the same.

When selecting sandpaper to use for this project, pick paper that contains aluminum oxide, garnet or ceramic. These agents work best to smooth the wood.

Fine-grit sandpaper closes the pores of the wood grain. If you are staining the wood once you remove the old paint, do not choose grit finer than 180, or the wood might not stain evenly.

Warning

If the wood was painted prior to 1978, the paint may contain lead. Do not try to sand this type of paint. A professional must remove the lead-based paint or permanently seal it.

About the Author

Denise Brown is an education professional who wanted to try something different. Two years and more than 500 articles later, she's enjoying her freelance writing experience for online resources such as Work.com and other online information sites. Brown holds a master's degree in history education from Truman State University.